UNION bosses say they are outraged and disgusted at the way truckmaker ERF has axed 370 jobs.

Hundreds of workers from Sandbach and Middlewich face an agonising wait after the shock announcement.

More than half the 760 workforce will be made redundant after financial 'irregularities' of around #68million were discovered.

Now union representatives are seeking urgent talks with the company.

Henry Sunley, regional industrial organiser for the Transport and General Workers Union, said: "I am outraged and disgusted at the way the company has handled this. I have read the official statement from the company which was only sent to us under severe pressure.

"I am very unhappy with its content, which includes 'poor productivity' as a reason for change. I challenge them to prove that.

"I have dealt with ERF for over 20 years and the unions and the men have always attempted to co-operate with changes, terms and conditions to ensure productivity remains high. We are seeking to open talks urgently."

Ian Tonks, divisional officer for the Amalgamated Engineering and Electrical Union, added: "We will use the 90-day negotiation period to the best of our ability. We will meet the company as soon as possible to discuss this serious situation, and ask members to sit tight."

The cuts come just a year after ERF relocated from Sandbach to a #28m plant at Midpoint 18 in Middlewich. Chief executive officer John Bryant, chief finance officer Klaus Wagner and financial controller, Steve Ellis, were suspended less than a month ago as ERF's German parent company began a probe into 'accounting irregularities'.

The company was until recently the UK's leading truck builder. Last year it was sold to German company MAN for #118m.

A company statement said the cuts are part of a restructuring programme. ERF spokesman Trevor Longcroft said the job losses were "the first and a significant step toward returning the company to profitability."